Chapter 80
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Scoundrel, Villainess Lady, Stepmother (3)
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The next day, family head Eddard Calliope summoned me to his study.
I'd only asked Emma to prepare some suitable clothes for me, but what arrived was far more luxurious than expected, so with Alfredo's help, I got dressed.
The silk shirt bore the family crest—a shield-shaped badge—across the chest, and the subtly scented leather coat hung all the way down to my thighs.
"It suits you perfectly, young master."
"Isn't it a bit much?"
"The tailor put his heart and soul into it once he heard it was for you."
As I opened the door and stepped out, Emma was waiting.
"Ah! Young mas—"
Emma, who had been smiling and greeting me, suddenly gaped like her jaw had dropped and stared at me in a daze.
"What do you think? Too over the top, even from your perspective?"
"N-No! It looks amazing on you. Yes, really!"
Cat ears popped out above Emma's head as she vigorously shook her head in denial.
"...Emma, your ears are showing."
"Eek! Sorry!"
Emma adjusted her headband, and the cat ears slipped back inside her hair.
"They still pop out sometimes, huh."
"...No, they don't. It's been ages since the last time."
"Sure, let's go with that. Just be careful not to let anyone else see them."
"I swear, young master."
"No lying to the young master, Emma."
"Mr. Alfredo! When have I ever lied?!"
As Alfredo and I teased Emma, the study where Eddard was waiting came into view before we knew it.
I stopped in front of the door and glanced at Alfredo, who promptly knocked.
"Family head. The young master has arrived."
"Send him in."
Clank—
As the door opened, Alfredo and Emma bowed deeply.
I gave a light nod toward Eddard, who sat there sternly.
Thud—!
The door soon closed behind us, leaving just me and Eddard in the room.
"Sit. Care for some tea?"
"I'd be honored."
It felt luxurious just to drink tea poured by the head of House Calliope himself.
As I took a sip, Eddard lifted one corner of his mouth and spoke.
"You've grown a lot. Back before you entered Carnea Academy, you couldn't even meet my eyes, and now here you are, sipping tea so naturally."
"Thank you. My time at Carnea has been invaluable."
"I see. To be frank, I never thought you'd throw your hat into the successor race."
I'd half-expected words like that.
Given 'Eugene Calliope's' track record up to now, it was only natural to assume he had zero interest in the succession...
"I figured you'd marry into House Ursula instead."
"...?"
Eddard's unexpected line nearly made me spit out my tea.
How had he figured out my relationship with Lucia?
Had someone at the academy noticed?
'...No way.'
No one but me knew about Lucia—not perfectly, anyway. I'd managed that connection with ironclad secrecy.
I could understand rumors about Vivian, since I'd been a tad lax there, but even those wouldn't be a huge scandal. Messing around with the second daughter of House Beatrice was hardly a blemish, and if any weird gossip spread, I could always take her as a concubine or something.
But Lucia was different.
She was already all but confirmed as the next head of House Ursula.
Put simply, she held a status on par with the man sitting before me.
A scandal with her would impose massive restrictions on my movements.
"At first, I thought it was just kids fooling around, but even after ten years, she sends these letters every month! Lately, she's even been addressing me as 'Father' instead of 'Family Head.' Hahaha! Eugene, you should thank me. After all, I gave you these looks."
Eddard's words hit me like a smack to the head.
'...Lucia...!'
To think she'd been secretly corresponding with my father for ten years without me knowing.
And from Eddard's tone, he already saw our relationship as good as set.
It felt like I'd stumbled into Lucia's web without realizing it.
'...Calm down.'
If there was one thing I'd improved most since arriving in this world, it was my acting skills.
I steadied my nerves and replied with a faint smile.
"...Thank you. But I'm not here today to enter the successor race."
"Hm. So you'd rather be a pampered son-in-law in House Ursula than freeze in the chilly north? Or is it Her Highness the Princess? ...You always had the looks, even as a kid, but I never dreamed you'd snag both the empire's sun and moon."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Hiding it from your father too? Your face turned beet red reading Her Highness's letter."
With that, Eddard handed me the princess's letter.
The moment I took it, a chill ran down my spine.
"...You read this?"
"She wrote to show it to you."
I swore to myself not to panic as I opened it, but it was no use.
'...What the hell is this.'
My mind was reeling.
I hadn't expected a fully formal tone from a personal letter, but this went way overboard.
It briefly mentioned how I'd saved her and the imperial invitation, but over 95% gushed about how dashing 'Eugene Calliope' had been in that moment.
...Complete with little sketches she'd drawn herself.
I let out a silent sigh and tried to hand the letter back, but Eddard refused.
"It's basically a love letter for you, so you should keep it."
"....Understood."
My head throbbed.
I wanted to bolt and crash, but I couldn't squander this golden one-on-one with Eddard.
I steeled myself and spoke up again.
"...Family head, the reason I requested this audience is to declare my support for my eldest brother."
In that instant, Eddard's jovial chuckle sharpened into a piercing gaze.
"...Insolent brat. You think your lone endorsement sways the successor selection?"
I could understand Eddard's anger.
Entering the race and meddling in the selection were worlds apart.
Choosing the successor was the family head's sole prerogative.
For me to even bring it up was outrageous.
But I couldn't back down.
The next head would determine which side House Calliope backed in the coming war.
"Yes, I do. My own strength may be meager, but the weight of my support is not."
I'd grown a fair bit, but my personal power was still laughably weak.
The people behind me, however, were not.
For starters, Erden Calliope had rejected his maternal family's backing outright.
His outer relatives had pushed back hard, trying to plant their people inside, but when Erden went on a hunger strike and nearly died, they had no choice but to relent.
Kail Calliope's maternal side was too feeble.
Before Garcia married Eddard, House Mysa had been barely a cut above commoners.
So they had no one to insert into House Calliope even if they wanted to.
My mother's House Pavoli was different. Though now fallen, it had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Calliope and Ursula.
Even if she'd cut ties with them due to strife and married into Calliope without the name, she'd brought all her loyal retainers.
And now, they held key posts: butler, chef, tailor, gardener, department heads.
In other words, among the three candidates, I was the only one with real direct influence inside House Calliope.
"...Why support Erden over Kail?"
"For the people. As you know, Family Head, my second brother's temperament is cruel and his vision narrow."
"Would Erden even accept you after refusing his own family's aid?"
"He will. What I've built isn't blood—it's merit. He hasn't rejected the loyalty of the soldiers he's personally won over."
"You think Garcia will sit idle if you back Erden?"
"That's my burden to bear."
In the original 'Academy Tamer' plot, backing Erden—or stepping up myself—would get me poisoned by Garcia.
'...But that's not an issue here.'
I'd made preparations to 'convince' her this time.
If things went to plan, I could smoothly install Erden as next head.
"Then, one last question. Why not compete yourself?"
I'd prepared a fitting excuse for Eddard's query and answered with a smooth smile.
"Why would I chop my brothers' heads off when I can just play house husband to Ursula's pillar?"